Of endicott



J. W. BRYCE.

RECORDER. APPLICATION FILED IULY I9, I9II.

Pittented Aug. 29, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I I l I J. W. BRYCE.

RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED1IILYI9.I9II.

1 1 95,972. l Patented Aug. 29, 1916.l

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IOOOOOOOOOO @000000000 @ooooooooo `OOOOOOOOOO I Oooooooooo J. W. BRYCE.

RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I9, I9I I.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

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INVENTOR BY @MIM 1. W. BRYCE.

RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. :91 L.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

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INVENTOR WWW/W ATTORNEYS THIS SIDE OUT 05Mb wwwa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES VARES BRYCE, F BLOOMFIEID, NEWv JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL TIME RECORDING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- 'f'ION OF NEW' YORK.

RECORDER.

Application filed July 19, 1911.

i are used as the record surfaces for receiving time records. In such machines heretofore great diliiculty has been experienced 1n properly positioning the cards accurately in place in the time recorder, or in bringing' them, or some part of them, into register with the card slot or other device of the time recorder. This has been especially so in cases where time marks or holes have been pre iously punched in the cards, representing for example the time of a prior operation, and such cards are used a second time rin the same or a similar` time recorder, and attempts are made to brine' the previously punched time mark or hole into register with a device, in the time refander for actuating or controlling the operation of such device, as for example in recording the time of a second operation of the machine or the elapsed time between two operations. This di'liiculty is peculiarly l cat where such previously made mark is These difiiculties are owing largely to changes in the card itself due to variations in temperatmfe, humidity, dsc., changing the sire of the card, or the distance of a previously punched hole or mark from the side or edge of the card.. They are also due in part to imperfections, inaccuracies, and looseness in the mechanism of the time recorder and to lost motion, most of which it is impossible to guard against. The trouble has been a very serious one, for without propr register, especially on a second o eration, controlled in whole or in part by :rpreviously punched mark or card, the time recorder may fail entirely to work or may give wholly erroneous records.

The object of my invention is to overcome these troubles and dii'liculties and to provide a ,f ming device capable, under all conditions of use, of accurately positioning a card in place in the time recorder, either on a iii-st or second operation, and of causing any part or mark or hole in the card to register with precision and accuracy with any Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

serial No. 639,297,

device or part of the time recorder, and thus to guard against mistakes in the operation of the time .recorder and to insure its operation at all times and under all conditions of use.

My invention consists in the novel devices and combinations herein shown and described.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part hereof, I have shown my impovement in connection With an elapsed time recorder, although it is obvious that my invention is not limited to use in such an apparatus.

efcrring to the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, Figure l represents a vertical section of such a machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section broken away on the lines 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the broken lines of Fig. l; Fig. -t is a similar view to that of Fig. 3, showing the parts after the completion of the movement; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail vertical sections showing the pin boxes, card and my improved positioning de vice in the various parts of the operation, Fig. showing the position of the parts at rest, Fig. (3 showing the position of the parts after the positioning device has done its work, and Fig. 7 showing the parts after the completion of the movement of the pin boxes; Figs. 8, 2), l() are views of the card preferably employed by me, Fig. 8 showing the card before use provided with positioning holes, Fig. 9 showing the card after an in operation of the elapsed time recorder and ready for insertion for a second operation in the recorder, and Fig. l0 a view of the reverse side of the top of the card.

The machine shown in the drawings in connection with which my improvement is shown as used, is an elapsed time recording machine. It will be understood, however, that my improvement may be used in other kinds of elapsed time recorders and other time recorders. The elapsed time recording machine illustrated in the drawings is not shown in allits details, only enough being shown to illustrate my improvement and the way Vin which it co-acts with suoli a machine er any suitable time recording machine.

Referring now to the devices shown in the drawings, l is the preferred form of my improved card adapted to be placed in he elapsed time recorder shown, or any other suitable time recording machine, to have a time mark or record made thereon, and adapted to be placed a second time in the same or a similar machine to have a second time record made thereon, either of elapsed time between the two operations or representing the time of the second operation, the computing and recording mechanism in theI second operation being controlled by the time niark or hole previously punched in the card.

2, 2 represent holes made in such a first operation, representing by their location upon the card the time of such operation.

3, 3 represent positioning holes punched in the card before the first operation.

Fig. 8 represents the card before the first operation, and Fig. 9 the card after the first operation and preparatory to its being used in a second operation.

Fig. l0 illustrates the reverse side of the top of the card, provided with instructions to the workman how to insert the card.

The positioning marks provided on the card may be of any suitable form. Pref erably they are marks or cuts or holes round ed at least in their operative parts. I prefer to use a circular hole as shown. Preferably these holes are made relatively large,

or larger than the positioning device in the time recorder to be presently described, so that the card need not be accurately placed in the slot when inserted by the workman, and so as to compensate for changes in the size of the card due to variations in surrounding conditions such as temperatulc, humidity, Ste., or to inaccurate cutting of the cards in manufacture. Preferably also the positioning mark or hole is placed as near as possible on the card to the time holes to be punched in the first operation, so that any changes in the size of the card due to the conditions above stated, will be minimized as much as possible. Preferably also I use a plurality of these positioning marks or holes, although a single one may be employed if desired. l/Vhen a plurality are used the card is more readily and accurately. positioned as will be more fully described later on.

In the card shown a space I is left for recording the in time; another 5 for the out time, and another G for the elapsed time as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Other suitable directions are placed upon the card as, for example, those shown in Figs. 8, S) and l0. Any suitable form and shape of card may be used and the card may be made of any suitable material as long as it is re1nov able from and replaceable in the machine for use in the different operations.

In the apparatus of the time recorder I employ a positioning device adapted to cause a card, whenever placed in the card slot or receptacle of the machine, to register accurately in place. This positioning device is' preferably made yielding or flexible, and is preferably provided with means for moving it in two directions when it co-acts with the positioning mark or hole in the card so as to move the card in two directions laterally and longitudinally of the card to bring it into exact and accurate alinement with an end and side of the card slot. It is preferably also made rounded. at least in its operative parts. In practice T preferably employ a plurality of these positioning devices to co-act with a plurality of positioning marks or holes in the card. In the preferred form shown in the drawings the positioning devices consist of two lingers T, 7 made partly cylindrical or rounded and adapted upon entering a positioning hole in the card to move the card sidewise and longitudinally of the card slot, as shown, to move the card to the right and downward as viewed in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. This side and down mo tion is made a yielding or liexible one by means of a spring or other equivalent device. The particular means shown in the drawings consists of a shaft 8 mounted in bearings 9 secured to the framework, the shaft being moved lengthwise of its axis through the bearings, and carrying sleeves 10, 10, fast with it. These sleeves l0 carry arms ll, 1l on which the positioning devices 7 are mounted.

l2 a cam surface fast to shaft 8. Bearing 9 and cam 12 coact to force shaft 8 to the right when the latter is rotated to give the sidewise motion to the positioning fingers 7.

Fingers 7 are thrown downward and to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, so as to enter the positioning holes 3 in the card .l and force the card downward against the bottom 13 of the card slot lli. In Fig. 5 the card 1 is shown as not quite reaching the bottom of the card slot, and in Fig. G it .is shown after positioning fingers 7 have forced it into that position. During this operation the cam 12 has forced shaft S to the right causing the fingers also to have the sidewise motion previously spoken of, forcing the card to the right against the side wall 15 of the slot. This causes the card to be always positioned with eXactness and precision with reference to the bottom and side of the card slot. LSpring 17, wrapped around shaft S and secured at one end to stationary bearing 9, and connected to sleeve l0 at the other end, moves the fingers to the left when retracted from the positioning holes, and torsional spring 1G secured at one end to arm ll and at the other end to boss or hub 36 tends to make the downward and sidewise motion of the positioning finger ll of a yielding or flexible character in order to prevent tearing of the card or injury to it. The use of two or more positioning devices to act in two or more positioning holes, tends also to make more certain, easy and accurate, the moving and positioning of the card. iviy positioning devices as thus constructed, operate like fingers of the hand, seizing the card firmly and yet yieldingly, and forcing it positively downward and to the right without undue pressure and without injury to the card. The positioning holes are relatively large compared with the positioning lingers as shown in Fig. et, or at least are sulliciently larger so that no looseness or lost motion of the parts will prevent 'he operation of the lingers, and so that great care need not be exercised in the 'punching out of the positioning holes 3.

The latter feati'u'e is of great practical impfn-tanco as it is a di'l'licult thing to always punch holes in a large number of cards at one time, as is necessary in practice, with absolute precision and certainty.

ln. practice the positioning holes may be made considerably larger than the holes punched in the card at the first operation, to indicate time.y as clearly shown in Fig. 9. 1t is a great advantage in time recorders where holes or marks are punched in the card to indicate time of operation, to have these holes very small, such for instance as piu holes, or holes hardly larger than pin holes. Vilith such holes it is extremely difficult to cause them to register with the mechanism with which they are to co-act, whether introduced on a second operation into the sa me machine or a similar machine. The slightest variation in the width or length or size of the card is apt to throw thcni sul'liciently out of register either to prevent the time recorder from operating at all on the second operation, or to cause a wrong computation and record to be made. Father case is equally fatal to the success of the time recorder. By means of my improvement, however, absolute precision and accuracy can be obtained in registering such small holes with their co-acting devices so that no trouble whatever is experienced no matter what the surrounding conditi ons are as to ten'iperatiu'e, humidity &c. 1n order to further viinimize such changes in the card l prelr-u'ably place the positioning devices i i close in vline on the card with the holes to be punched on the lirst operation as possible, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

The special means shown for moving the fingers T downward. and to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, are as follows: 18 is the main driving shaft of the machine, and is operated by means of a handle 19 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and mounted on the end of shaft 1S projecting outside oil. the framework of the machine. 20 is a cam surface on a cani fast on the shaft 18. 22 is a roller carried on thc end of a lever Q3 fast on asleeve 24 loose on the rod 25 secured in the framework. Sleeve 24 also carries an arm 2t carrying at its upper end a projecting piece 27 provided with a. roller 28 bearing against the end 29 of an arm 30 fast to the sleeves 36 secured to shaft 8. At the first movement of shaft 18 cam surface 20 rocks 23, 2G, 2T and to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, moving arm 30, sleeve 36, shaft 8 to the right, and throwing arms 11, 11 and lingers 7. 7 downward and to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 as already described. 1n the rotation of shaft 8 cam 12 forces the shaft slightly to the right against spring 17 as already described.

I have not shown in full detail the devices for co-acting with the previously punched holes 2 in a second operation of the machine, as such devices are well known and form no part of my present invention. I have illustrated to a certain extent parts of such devices. These consist of a pin box 31 provided with difl'erent sets of pins, one set for each sub-division of time, and each set composed of a series of pins These pins are mounted in the pin box 31 and project slightly to the right as shown. The normal position of the pin box is away from the card as shown in Fig. 5. The pin box, at the proper time in the operation of the machine, is forced to the right so that the ends of the pins are brought against the card 1 as. shown in Fig. 7. If any pin comes into alinement or register with a hole 2 previously punched in the card, it passes through it as shown in Fig. 7. The other pins strike against the card and are forced backward, as shown in Fig. 7, relatively to the pin box, springs 33 encircling the pins and pressing against collars 34. fast on the pins, permitting this motion but restoring the pins to their normal position when the pin box is moved to the left again as in Fig. 5. Any pin projecting through the card projects through a hole in a guide plate 35, one of which is provided for each series of pins as shown in Fig. .2. Such a pin projects into the path of a nose 36 on a rack 37. There are of course as many racks as there are .serres of pins. Each rack is normally7 held in its upward position but at the proper time in the operation of the machine permitted to fall, being guided by the guide rods 38 secured to the framework passing through slots 39 of the rack. The proj ecting pin determines the amount to which the rack 37 shall fall. This moves a time recording wheel 40 in one direction. The tnne recording wheels 10 are moved in the other direction by any suitable time controlled mechanism. This mechanism forms no part of the present invention, and sulficient of it is merely given to illustrate the general. operation. Referring to this, 1l forms a series of time cams driven by a clock in any well known method. This mechateeth 46 which mesh with teeth 47 on a sector 48 loose on shaft 49 secured to the framework. 50 is an operating swinging piece driven from the operating handle 19 of the machine by any suitable means. As this forms no part of the invention it is not shown. Piece 50 carries a series of pawls 51, one for each sector 48. The swinging piece 50 in the operation of the machine is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the loft, and immediately after it begins this operation pawl 51 is released from the bar 52 and is thrown by a spring, notshown, until its nose 53 engages one of the teeth 54 of sector 4S. Sector 48 at any particular time will occupy a position dependent upon the position of cam 41. Swinging piece 50 swings to the left the same stroke at every operation of the machine so that the extent to which it will move sector 48 to the left depends upon the initial position of sector 48 at the time pawl 53 engages with it. The edge of sector 4S strikes a pin 55 fast on sector 5G. This sector is provided with teeth 57 engaging with the teeth 5S of rack 59. Rack 59 is guided by means of rods 60 secured to the framework passing through slots 61 in the rack. The rack 59 is normally held in its down position as shown in Fig. 1, by means of a spring (32 secured to it at its upper end., and at its lower end is se cured to rod. G3 fast to the framework. This spring is shown partially broken away. Rack is provided at its lower left hand end with teeth. G4. 65 is a floating dilferential rack supported at its lower end on lever (30 loosely pivoted on shaft G7 fast to the lramework. At its upper end it is guided by a. pin GS entering slot G9 in the differential rack. rllhe differential rack is provided at its lower end with a differential gear 70, and at its upper left hand end with a series of teeth 71 adapted to engage a pinion 72 fast on the shaft 7 3 of the time recording wheel 40. Each rack e7 is also provided with a series oil' teeth 74 at its lower right hand end adapted to engage with the differential wheel 70.

lin the operation of the machine the racks 59 with their teeth G4 rotate differential gear wheel 7 (l, cause it to run up on rack 7 4 and turn the corresponding time recording wheel 40 contrawise as viewed in Fig. 1. This turns the wheel 40 which normally stands at zero so that it represents the time of day as represented by time cam 41. Each rack 37 in falling turns differential wheel 70 the reverse way, causing it to run down on rack G4 and moves the time recording wheel 40 in the direction of the movement of the hands of a clock. As this movement is determined through the pin boxes by the previously punched holes 2 in card 1, which holes represent the time of a prior operation, the effect is to subtract from the time of day, to which the recording wheels 40 are moved by their corresponding time cams 41, the time of the prior operation at which holes 2, 2 were punched. This gives the elapsed time between the two operations, and the recording wheels 40 will indicate and print that elapsed time.

75 represents a pawl engaging with a .ratchet wheel 7G fast with timing cam 41 and both loose on shaft 77. 7S represents means for operating the different pawls 75. These are actuated by means not shown as they form no part of the invention. 7 9 is a spring for holding pawl 7 5 in engagement. 80 is a stop bar to limit the movement of operating part 7 S. Pawl Sl with its spring 82, loose on shaft 83, prevent backward rotation of the timing cam. S4, 84 represent cross-overs connecting the operating sectors with the devices for operating the punches to punch the holes 2, 2 on the first operation. As these parts. form no part of the invention they are omitted. Certain other parts are slightly illustrated in the drawings, but as they do not concern this invention a description of them is omitted..

hly invention makes it possible to always accurately register or position a removable and replaceable card in the card slot or with the d oviccs with which marks or holes on the card co-act, irrespective of any changes in the card due to varying conditions. It prevents .mistakes in the computation and recording operation, and insures that time recorders operating upon removable cards, will always work and will work properly. lt enables small or pin holes to be used to represent the time of a first operation of the machine, and insures that the devices co-acting with them and especially small pins, will always register with them and enter the holes on the second operation. This is a great advantage in such machines. Heretofore the use of such small holes, while a great advantage in many ways, has been attended with great dilliculty. It has been found dificultto register such a pin with a pin hole. A slight expansion or contraction of the card due either to varying conditions of temperature, humidity, &c., or `to inaccurate manufacture, is apt to throw the pin and pin hole either ont of register altogether, or sutliciently so to cause wrong records to be made, and sometimes no records at all. In fact, this disadvantage has been so great as to make time recorders of this character eX- tremely ditlicult of use in practical operation under the usual working conditions.

My improvement enables the positioning hole and device to be located near the part `does not tear the card.

of the card and the device of the time recorder that are to co-act with each other and to be registered with each other, and thus reduces to a minimum the eii'ect upon the recording oi any changes in the card due to varying conditions. My device is positive and certain in action and operation, and It acts like the human fingers in bringingl the card into its exact place accurately and easily and without undue force or pressure. Another advantage is that it permits considerable latitude in the location of the previously punched holes representing' prior time, making it easier and cheaper' to arrange such holes. Accurate register in such previous punching is therefore not absolutely necessary. For the same reason it also renders it easier and cheaper to make the parts of the time recorder, and especially those parts with which the previously punched holes are to register, as exactness in these parts is not so essential, my device compensating 'l'or variations over any range met with in practice.

lviodiiications other than those specifically stated may be made in the devices shown and described. herein without departing from my invention, the essentials of which are set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings I have -shown my improvement as embodied in a time recorder. It is, however, not limited to use in such machines as it may be used in any recorder for which it is adapted.

IVhat I claim as new and desire secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a time recorder adapted 'tor use with removable cards and in'ovidcd with a card slot or receptacle, a positioning tinger adapted to move the card laterally and longitudinally otl the card slot to cause it to register accurately in place with the end and side o't' the card slot.

2. In a time recorder adapted 'for use with ren'ioval'ile cards and provided with a` card slot or receptacle, yielding positioning finger adapted to move the card laterally and longitudinally oit the card slot to cause it to register' accurately in place with the end and side of the card slot.

3. In a time recorder the combination of a removable card provided with a positioning hole, and. a positioning linger adapted to enter such hole when the card is inserted in the recorder and to move the card laterally and longitudinally of the card slot to cause it to register accurately in place.

t. In a time recorder the combination ot a removable card provided with a positioning hole located upon the card so that when the card is placed in position in the recorder the hole will be near the device in the recorder With which a part of the card is to co-act and a yielding positioning Iinger adapted to coact with the positioning hole to move the card laterally and longitudinally to bring it into accurate register' in the recorder.

In a time recorder the combination ot' a. removable card provided with a rounded or curved positioning hole located upon the card in such a place that when the card is in position in the recorder the hole will be near to that part of the recorder adapted to co-act with a part ot the card, and a yielding positioning finger adapted to coact with the positioning hole and movable in two directions when co-acting with said hole, the positioning device being rounded or curved and relatively smaller than the positioning hole.

C. In a time recorder the combination o't' a removable card provided with a previously punched hole representing the time oit' a prior operation and adapteifl to co-act with a device in thc recorder to aliiect a subsequent time recording operation of the rccorder, and provided with a positioning hole located on the card near said previously punched hole, and a positioning' iinger adapted to coact with the positioning hole to move the card in two directions upon entering said hole of the card so as to cause the previously punched hole to be in accurate register with the device in the recorder with which it is to co-act.

n a time recorder the combination or' a iovable card provided with a previou punched hole representing the time oi ay p1 operation and adapted to co-act with a device in the recorder to afliect a subsequent time recording o peration or' the recorder', and provided with a positioning hole located on the card near said ipreviously punched hole, and a yielding positioning linger adapted to coact with. the positioning hole to move the card in two directions upon entering said hole ot the card so as to cause the previously punched hole to be in accurate register' with the device i-n the recorder with which it is to eo-aet.

8. In a time recorder the combination of a removable card provided with a rounded or curved hole, a previously punched hole, representing the time of a prior operation and adapted to co-act with a device in the recorder to affect a subsequent time recording operation of the recorder, the positioning hole and the previously punched hole being arranged on the card near each other, and a yielding rounded or curved positioning finger adapted to move the card longitudinally and laterally in the card slot when the positioning finger engages with the positioning hole, the positioning hole being larger than the positioning finger, all so arranged that the positioning finger on entering the positioning hole in the card Will move the card positively but without undue pressure to cause the previously punched hole in the card to be brought into accurate register with the device in the recorder with which it is to co-act.

9. In a time recorder adapted for use with removable cards and provided with a card slot or receptacle, a plurality of positioning devices adapted to coact with the card to cause a card, when placed in such card slot or receptacle to assume the same and accurate registering position each time.

l0. In a time recorder the combination of a removable card provided with a plurality of rounded or curved positioning holes, a plurality of rounded or curved yieldmg positioning ngers adapted to move the card laterally and longitudinally when in engagement with the positioning holes, the positioning holes being Vlarger than the rounded engaging portions of the positioning lingers, whereby a card when inserted in the recorder may be moved into accurate register.

ll. In a time recorder the combination of a removable card provided with a previously punched hole representing the time of a prior operation and adapted to co-act with a device in the recorder to ali'ect a subsequent time recording operation and provided with a plurality of rounded or curved positioning holes, one of which is located on the card near the previously punched hole, and a plurality of rounded or curved yielding positioning fingers capable of a lateral and longitudinal movement when engaging with the positioning holes in the card, the positioning holes being relatively larger than the positioning lingers, all so arranged that the positioning lingers upon engaging with the positioning holes will move the card positively but without undue torce to bring the previously punched hole into accurate register with the device in the recorder with which it is to co-act.

12. In a recorder the combination of a removable card provided with a positioning hole located upon the card so that when the card is placed in position in the recorder the hole will be near the device in the recorder with which a part of the card is to co-act, and a yielding positioning linger adapted to move the card laterally and longi` tudinally to bring it into accurate register in the recorder.

13. In a recording machine the combina-- tion of a removable card provided with a mark adapted to co-act with a device in the recorder, and a positioning device in the recorder to co-act with said mark to cause the card to assume the same and accurate registering position each time, whereby the records ol' a first and second operation of the machine will be in accu v'ate register.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciiication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WARES BRYCE.

Witnesses Gno. M. HARRIS,

EDWIN SEGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for nve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

